🏉 Book Review: Play Me by Adriana Locke
A fiery enemies-to-lovers romance packed with grumpy banter, forced proximity, and a rugby star who’s impossible to ignore.
Adriana Locke’s Play Me is the first book in her new sports romance series, and it’s already making waves with a Goodreads rating of 4.54/5 from nearly 300 readers. If you love slow-burn tension, snarky dialogue, and emotionally guarded characters who fall hard, this one’s a touchdown.
🧠 Plot Overview
Astrid is hired to keep rugby superstar Gray Adler on schedule and out of trouble. Easy, right? Not when Gray is the human embodiment of a red flag—rude, arrogant, and infuriatingly attractive. Astrid dreams of smothering him with his own jersey, but the universe has other plans.
Their forced proximity turns into something deeper as Astrid begins to see past Gray’s gruff exterior. But Gray is hiding something—something that could shatter the fragile trust they’ve built. As secrets unravel and emotions ignite, Astrid must decide whether she’s being played… or finally seeing the real Gray.
💬 Why Readers Love It
- Grumpy vs. Grumpy: Both leads are delightfully prickly, making their banter sharp and hilarious.
- Enemies-to-Lovers Done Right: The tension simmers before boiling over into steamy, emotional payoff.
- Hidden Depths: Gray’s backstory adds layers of vulnerability beneath his tough exterior.
- Small-Town Charm: The setting adds warmth and intimacy, grounding the high-stakes romance.
📣 Early Praise
- “A romance reader’s playbook for a good time.” — PP’s Bookshelf
- “Now that I know what enemies-to-lovers should look like, I think I’m ruined in the best way.” — ReadLaughRomance
- “Sharp wit and sassy banter had me laughing out loud from the beginning!” — JenjenBookFan
🏁 Final Verdict
Play Me is a sizzling, emotionally satisfying romance that hits all the right tropes with fresh energy and heart. If you’re craving a sports romance with bite, banter, and a hero who’s as broken as he is beautiful, this one’s worth every page.
